Niche and fun! Eight autumn festivals that Japanese people regret not going to, so pick one and check it out!

type

status

date

slug

summary

🤗 01 Nadano Hustle Festival

On October 14th and 15th every year, Himeji City's Matsubara Hachiman Shrine holds the Nada no Hustle Festival.

Perhaps you will be more familiar with another name for the festival, “Battle Festival”.

Participants carry mikoshi (festival roofs) and ram them into each other as a demonstration of dominance and a desire for victory.

The festival is divided into two days. On the first day, seven teams from different districts carry ornately decorated mikoshi (portable shrines) to the shrine, with each float weighing 2.5 tons and needing to be carried by 200 to 300 people.

Upon entering the shrine, the floats provoke each other and wave up and down, signaling the start of the “parade”. The parade performers bring the floats close together, lift them up with outstretched arms, and then push them against each other. If the float loses its balance, the huge float will fall, and the tension spreads as the spectators hold their breath.

The next day, the stage is moved to the foot of Mount Ota, 1.6 kilometers west of the shrine, and a parade is held in front of thousands of spectators. Teams of young people carry three giant mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets and engage in fierce battles.

In this way, the Nadano-no Hustle Festival is not only a contest of strength, but also an expression of the unity and cooperation of the local people, and has a unique cultural and historical value that attracts many domestic and foreign tourists every year.

Place: Matsubara Hachiman Shrine, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture Date: October 14 and 15, 2024 Access: About 1.5 hours by train from Kobe Airport

🤗 02 Niihama Taiko Festival

For people in Fisherman's Town in the eastern part of Ehime Prefecture, “You may not go home for the Bon Festival, but you must go back for the Niihama Taiko Festival!”

As one of the three major festivals in Shikoku, along with the Awa Dance Festival and the Yorai Festival, the Niihama Taiko Matsuri (drum festival) is held to celebrate the bounty of the fall harvest and to thank the gods for their gifts. The festival has a long history, dating back as far as the Heian or Kamakura periods.

From October 15 to 18 every year, 54 huge taiko drum platforms will participate in the parade, which is so spectacular that it attracts many visitors every year.

These taiko drum platforms can be up to 6.5 meters high and weigh up to 2 tons, requiring more than 200 strong men to jointly carry them in the procession. The drum platforms are exquisitely decorated, with a curtain at the top to symbolize the sun, four black pillars to symbolize the clouds, and huge white knotted tassels to symbolize the rain, all in homage to the natural ecology.

During the festival, taiko odori (drum platforms) are paraded around the city to the rhythmic beat of the drums and the sound of yelling. In particular, the “Kobo Kinko,” in which the strongest men demonstrate their strength and skill, is a spectacular display of male vigor, and this is why the Niihama Taiko Matsuri is also known as the “Man's Festival.

Every year, the event site is crowded and bustling, with the drums clashing against each other, and the sound of flutes and shouts vibrating to the heavens. Niihama Taiko Matsuri can be regarded as a very representative autumn festival in Japan, and if you are planning to travel to Japan in the fall, don't miss it if time permits~!

Place: All over Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture Time: October 15~18, 2024 Transportation: About 30 minutes by car from Niihama IC; about 30 minutes by bus or cab from JR Niihama Station

🤗 03 Kyoto Times Festival

There are three major festivals in Kyoto: the Aoi Festival in May, the Gion Festival in July, and the Toki Festival in October.

On October 22nd, the day of the Toki Matsuri, the gods are brought to the mikoshi (portable shrine) for a parade, which is a spectacular event.

In fact, there are festivals related to the Toki Matsuri before the parade. On October 15, the Senshosai Festival is held to gather the parade participants to pray in front of the Heian Jingu Shrine, and on October 21, the Maejisai Festival is a flower dedication ceremony to pray for the success of the Toki Matsuri.

On the day of the 22nd, the festival segments are interlocked and the parade begins. The parade rewinds history, recreating important historical events from the Meiji Restoration in the early 19th century to the Heian Period in the 8th century.

A parade from each era accompanies the two deities as they parade along the streets, and the audience witnesses Kyoto's journey toward peace and prosperity.

Twenty groups of processions take to the stage, and the procession of more than 2,000 people stretches for nearly 2 kilometers. A total of 12,000 pieces of costumes and ritual objects have been carefully dated and restored by Kyoto artisans using traditional craftsmanship techniques down to the last thread.

As the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years, Kyoto has experienced many important historical events, and the Era Festival recreates historical scenes and adds flavor to the ancient capital.

Place: Kyoto Prefecture (parade from Kyoto Gyoen to Heian Jingu) Date: October 22, 2024

🤗 04 Saitama Kawagoe Festival

Kawagoe, known as Little Edo, has a festival atmosphere every fall.

The Kawagoe Festival is usually held on the third weekend of October.

This grand festival has a history of more than 370 years, originating from the “Regular Grand Festival” held at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine on October 14, and evolving over time with the “Shinko Matsuri” and “Colorful Carriage Ceremony” held immediately afterward. “and the “Colorful Ride Ceremony” are held immediately after the festival.

With a height of up to 8 meters and weighing 5 or 6 tons, the colorful car is decorated with exquisite embroidery and carvings, and large dolls are placed on the roof of the car, making it one of the highlights of the entire festival.

The parade starts with music and an exciting “battle” may be seen at the intersection.

The Eve Festival was equally informative with a large audience. It was even more hazy and charming with the warm yellow lights on, and the lanterns added a layer of mysterious atmosphere to the colorful parade during the accompaniment.

Place: Hikawa Shrine, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture and the surrounding area of Kawagoe Time: October 19 and 20, 2024 Transportation: 10-minute walk from JR Kawagoe Station

🤗 05 The Lion Dance Kingdom of Sanuki

Kagawa Prefecture is the smallest prefecture in Japan, but it is a real “lion dance kingdom” with about 800 skillful lion dance groups.

Every year in early November, about 60 lion dance troupes from Kagawa Prefecture come together to perform a feast for the eyes and ears. The lion heads of each lion dance troupe are displayed with their unique colors, shapes, and ornate tarpaulins (the cloth that makes up the lion's torso).

Shishimai has been passed down in Takamatsu City for more than 400 years, and for local residents, fall is the season for shishimai.

Wearing elaborately airbrushed lion heads and colorful cloth ribbons, the lion dancers dance to the beat. The action is exhilarating, the sound of the gong shakes the sky, and the exotic atmosphere rises to the top as the performances continue one after the other, shaking the audience with every move.

In addition to the traditional lion dance, there were also performances by the children of the “Hitting Songs” and “Hitting Drums”.

Location: Around Takamatsu Station, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture Time: November 2, 2024 16:00 ~ 3, 10:00

🤗 06 Saga International Hot Air Balloon Festival

The Saga International Balloon Festival, the largest hot air ballooning event in Asia, is held on the banks of the Kasegawa River in Saga City for five days in early November every year.

How can you not come to this once-a-year hot air ballooning extravaganza and see the spectacle? Hundreds of hot air balloons rise up at the same time, making for great viewing.

Not only that, there will be an intense flying competition during the festival. Balloon enthusiasts and professional pilots from all over the world will take part in this event, and the various colors of specially shaped hot air balloons will add a lot of fun to the scene.

Visitors can of course take part in a variety of activities on site, such as getting up close and personal with the hot air balloon, or even going inside the balloon for a tour.

There is also the opportunity to experience releasing a hot air balloon yourself under the guidance of a professional! The Hot Air Balloon Academy offers training programs to work with pilots and crews from inflation to wind down.

When the hot air balloon is lit at night, a live orchestra will play music and everyone will be immersed in a dirty dreamy atmosphere. On the last night of the event, there will be a great fireworks display, so don't miss it!

Place: Kasegawa River bank, Saga City, Saga Prefecture Time: October 31 to November 4, 2024 Transportation: During the festival, a temporary station “Balloon Saga Station” will be opened near the venue, which is about a 1-minute walk away.

🤗 07 Karatsugu Day Festival

In Saga Prefecture, there is a traditional folkloric event, the Karatsugu Hinamatsuri Festival, which has been held for more than 400 years.

Fourteen deluxe Hikiyama floats, approximately 7 meters tall and weighing 2 to 3 tons, will parade through the old castle town from Karatsu Shrine all the way to Nishino Beach to the accompaniment of flutes, bells, and taiko drums.

During the festival in previous years, about 500,000 spectators gathered at the site to watch the parade. Designated as an Intangible Cultural Property by UNESCO, the Karatsugaya Day Float stuns domestic and foreign visitors with its splendor.

However, the oldest Hikiyama float is the “Red Lion” float, which was built in 1819. This float has undergone six major restorations and still retains its original appearance.

When the lights come on, the tang lions and giant snappers swim through the night in all their splendor and mystery.

Place: Karatsu Shrine, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture Date: November 2~4, 2024 Access: Approx. 15 minutes on foot from JR Karatsu Station

🤗 08 Kotobukuro Shrine Autumn Leaves Festival

How can you miss the autumn festival in Japan without the red leaves?

It is said that Kanabiro Shrine is a must-visit place for Japanese people once in a lifetime, and the autumn leaf festival held here on November 10th is an event that many tourists look forward to every year.

At about 9:30 that morning, the Shinto priests of the Golden Dagger Biro Palace will depart from the gate and advance step by step to the music towards our palace.

On this day, the rituals for the gods, such as the Kimbira dance and the kicking game, inherited from the Kondabira Palace, will also be performed, lifting the veil of their mystery to the world. It is a dreamlike experience with the flaming red leaves.

During the Red Leaves Festival, there are many historical sites around the path for visitors to explore. The “High Lantern”, which was used as a signpost when “worshipping the main god of the world”, and the unique “Sheath Bridge”, which has no abutments, are full of history.... ...are filled with history.

Venue: Kanade Biro Shrine, Kotohira-cho, Nakadodo-gun, Kagawa Prefecture Date: November 10, 2024 Access: 30-minute walk from JR Kotohira Station or 15-minute walk from Koden Kotohira Station

💡

Autumn is in full swing, the temperature is perfect, and with such a wide variety of Japanese autumn festivals, you have to pick one to check out!